The second free practice session (FP2) in Monaco ends with hometown hero Charles Leclerc once again on top of the timesheets. Despite a rough start to the session, Oscar Piastri managed to finish in second place, ahead of car #44 from Scuderia Ferrari. Meanwhile, it was a day to forget for Max Verstappen.
After the morning’s first free practice session—topped by the local favorite with a time of 1:11.964, ahead of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris—the opening day of the eighth round of the Formula 1 season concluded with FP2 on the streets of the Principality.
Leclerc was fastest again in the afternoon session, followed by his teammate in third. Splitting the two SF-25s of the Prancing Horse was Oscar Piastri, who impressively bounced back after a dramatic crash into the wall. Lando Norriscompleted the top four.
It was a disappointing Friday for Max Verstappen, who only managed 10th place after running wide at the famous Fairmont Hairpin. Things didn’t go much better for the Silver Arrows, with Kimi Antonelli finishing ninth and George Russell twelfth. Franco Colapinto had a quiet session, ending up 20th.
Session Highlights
20:14 – The race stewards’ decision on Oliver Bearman’s infraction has arrived. The British driver from the Haas F1 Team, who allegedly overtook Carlos Sainz during the red flag caused by Oscar Piastri, will serve a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race, along with two penalty points on his license.
“The regulations require drivers to slow down ‘immediately’ and proceed slowly back to the pit lane (Article 2.5.4.1 b)). The same regulations also warn drivers that, in a red flag situation, ‘overtaking is prohibited’, and that drivers must ‘remember that race and service vehicles may be on track’. ” reads the statement issued by the stewards. “Given the circumstances, there are no mitigating factors for the fact that he overtook another car under red flag conditions, and therefore we have imposed a 10-place grid drop for the race and two penalty points.”
18:00 – FP2 ends with Charles Leclerc again topping the timesheets, ahead of Oscar Piastri and Lewis Hamilton. Lando Norris finishes in fourth.
17:53 – Race simulation begins. Max Verstappen, still 10th, runs wide before Fairmont Hairpin.
17:49 – With 10 minutes to go, Piastri wedges himself between the Ferraris, just +0.038 off Leclerc.
17:40 – Leclerc lights up the first sector in purple again but loses time in sectors two and three. Ferrari 1-2, with Hamilton trailing by +0.105.
17:33 – Carlos Sainz climbs to P4 on yellow tyres. Leclerc flies with a 1:11.414 on softs. Norris slips between the Ferraris.
17:28 – A great lap from Fernando Alonso gives him provisional P1 with a 1:12.087, but Hamilton steals the top spot by 0.062s. Alonso immediately reclaims it, dipping below 1:12.
17:27 – FP2 resumes. Oliver Bearman is under investigation for not respecting red flag procedures.
17:19 – Big crash for Oscar Piastri at Sainte Dévote! Red flag. Despite nose damage, he makes it back to the pits. Leclerc clocks the fastest lap during the incident.
17:16 – Back to green. Piastri takes P1 with 1:12.548, followed by car #44 and Pierre Gasly. Kimi Antonelli and George Russell slot into P3 and P4, respectively.
17:11 – Clock resumes, but all cars remain in the pits. Verstappen leads the timesheets, followed by Piastri and Leclerc. Hamilton is sixth.
17:07 – Red flag! Isack Hadjar hits the wall at the swimming pool chicane but manages to limp back to the pits.
17:05 – First reference time set by Alex Albon, soon beaten by a McLaren 1-2: Piastri in 1:13.068, Norris +0.328s. Then Verstappen drops the mark to 1:12.922.
17:01 – FP2 kicks off! Liam Lawson leads the pack out of the pit lane. Max Verstappen asks his engineer whether he’s using the same helmet and visor as in FP1.
16:30 – Lights out for the final session of the day: FP2 in Monaco starts at 17:00.
Photo: Scuderia Ferrari HP, McLaren Racing.